Start the New Year Right with a Happy, Well-Behaved Cavalier!
Are you ready to start fresh and teach your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel essential skills? Whether you have a new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy or want to lay a solid foundation for your adult Cavalier, this 8-week online positive dog training course is designed to set you and your Cavalier up for success in 2025 and beyond!
What Is This Online Dog Training Course About? This comprehensive Cavalier dog training program focuses on beginner-level puppy and dog training using positive reinforcement techniques tailored specifically for Cavaliers. I’ll help you build a strong bond with your Cavalier while teaching practical skills that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable.
Why This Course?
This program is tailored specifically for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. My goal is to provide a positive, supportive environment where you can learn to effectively communicate with your Cavalier and overcome challenges unique to the breed. The lessons are practical, engaging, and designed to strengthen your bond with your Cavalier.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Online Class Details
Tonya Wilhelm’s passion for dogs began in 1998 when she started her career as a kennel technician at The Capital Area Humane Society in Columbus, Ohio. Through her work, she quickly discovered the connection between canine anxiety, behavior, and overall confidence, and began focusing on positive, holistic methods to address behavior issues.
A devoted Cavalier mom since 2009, Tonya’s dedication to the breed led her to serve as the coordinator for Ohio Cavalier Rescue USA for two years. She stepped down from this role when her own dog, Dexter, was diagnosed with Chiari malformation. Tonya is the founder of two blogs—Raising Your Pets Naturally and Cavalier Gifts—as well as three YouTube channels: Raising Your Pets Naturally, Cavalier Tips and Fun, and Dexter the Dog and Friends, which also ties into her children’s book. She is a published author and freelance writer, contributing to various outlets focused on dog training and natural pet care. Tonya also runs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Training, Games, Care, Tips & Demos, a vibrant Cavalier-focused Facebook group.
Tonya taught group dog training classes for over 20 years and continues to offer private instruction through phone and Skype sessions, with a limited number of in-person sessions available. With years of experience in both rescue and training, Tonya is committed to helping Cavalier families raise healthy, happy dogs using positive training methods that strengthen the bond between pets and their families.
Week 1: Orientation (Live)
- Objectives: Overview of the course and goals.
- Management:
- Plan ahead for success.
- Interactive toys and chews.
- Crating, gating, fencing, and leashing.
- Exercise:
- Physical: 20–30 minutes before walking, training, or relaxation.
- Mental stimulation: Puzzles, treat games, hide-and-seek.
- Relationship Building:
- Reinforce good behavior.
- Name Game introduction.
- Hand feeding to build trust.
- Training Foundations:
- Reinforcement techniques: Quick, generous, variable.
- Using praise words or clicker for precision ("Yes!").
- Importance of motivators for training success.
Week 2: Building Basics
- Recap Week 1 lessons.
- Skills:
- Calm leash attachment.
- Leash walks.
- Sit
- Hand target.
Week 2 Live Chat: Potty Training and Socialization
- Tips for effective potty training.
- What is good vs. bad socialization.
Week 3: Confidence and Handling
- Recap lessons.
- Skills:
- Polite greetings.
- Bravery games.
- Watch.
- Body handling exercises.
Week 3 Live Chat: Small Dog Tips
- Training and handling tips tailored for small dogs.
Week 4: Offering Behaviors and Stays
- Recap lessons.
- Skills:
- Lure training.
- Free shaping.
- 101 Things to Do with a Box.
- Down.
- Stay.
Week 4 Live Chat: Managing Over-Excitement
- Tips for handling leash over-excitement around people and dogs.
Week 5: Recall and Tricks
- Recap lessons.
- Skills:
- Teaching Come when called.
- A simple trick.
- Paws Up.
Week 5 Live Chat: Supporting Nervous Dogs
- Strategies to help dogs with nerves or anxiety.
Week 6: Practical Skills
- Recap lessons.
- Skills:
- Fetch and Drop It.
- Collar grabs.
- Vet visit preparation.
Week 6 Live Chat: Noise Desensitization
- Preventing noise phobias.
Week 7: Advanced Handling
- Recap lessons.
- Skills:
- Gentle restraint.
- A new trick.
Week 7 Live Chat: Daily Needs for Success
- How to meet your dog’s physical and mental needs every day.
Week 8: Grooming
- Recap lessons.
- Skills:
- Teaching Stand.
- Desensitization to grooming tools.
Week 8 Live Chat: Final Q&A
- Addressing remaining questions and celebrating progress.
- Following the live orientation, a new training video and lesson will be posted every Monday in the private Facebook group
- Live Q&A sessions to ask your questions and gain deeper insights. Videos will remain in the group during your enrollment.
- Interactive Support in a Dedicated Facebook Training Group:
- Access to an 8-week guided program designed specifically for Cavaliers.
- Upload your training videos and share your Cavalier’s progress.
- Receive detailed feedback and personalized training tips.
- Post your questions in the group and get them answered directly.
- Celebrate your wins and connect with a community of like-minded Cavalier lovers!
- Opportunities to watch Stewart, my Cavalier, as he progresses through the same lessons.
- Exclusive discounts on private training sessions during the course.
- Start Date: The course will begin on January 13, 2025, with the live orientation, and will run for 8 weeks. Orientation will remain available in the group at all times.
- Location: Online within a private FACEBOOK group. You must have access to Facebook to enroll.
- If you’re unable to attend this round of classes but would like to be added to the waitlist for the next session, please send me an email.
- This class is currently open to Cavalier King Charles Spaniels only. If you're interested in an all-breed class, please email me, and I'll add you to the waitlist for a future session.
- Option 1: 3 months of access, full support for the first 3 months at a special price of $150 (Regular Price: $225)
- Two-Dog Discount: Save an additional $50 when enrolling two dogs.
- Option 2: 6 months of access, full support for the first 3 months with viewing access for the remaining 3 months, at a special price of $200 (Regular Price: $275)
- Two-Dog Discount: Save an additional $75 when enrolling two dogs.
Send me an email and I’ll send you the class registration and invoice.
- Following the live orientation, a new training video and lesson will be posted every Monday in the private Facebook group. You’re encouraged to ask questions related to your training lessons in the group for ongoing feedback and support. I also encourage you to share your training progress by posting videos.
- Each week, you will be given a specific training task and asked to upload a video of your dog practicing the task for feedback and support from your instructor. You are also welcome to share your thoughts on what’s working for you and offer suggestions to fellow students. Please ensure that your feedback is supportive, constructive, and in line with the training methods being taught.
No worries! All live chats will be recorded and available inside the private Facebook group for you to access anytime during your membership.
Yes! You can ask questions in the Facebook group, and I will respond regularly to help guide you through your training. You’ll also have direct access to me during the first 3 months of the course for more personalized feedback.
You will have access to the course for either 3 months (with full support) or 6 months (with support for the first 3 months and just access for the last 3 months). Content will remain available for the duration of your selected course option.
- All training in this course will utilize positive reinforcement methods. We emphasize rewarding desired behaviors rather than punishing unwanted ones to build a positive and cooperative relationship with your dog.
- Other training methods will not be recommended and will be deleted if uploaded or suggested in the group.
Yes! You will receive a special discount of $25 off my regular rate for private phone or Skype sessions during the course. These sessions can be used for personalized guidance or to work through specific challenges.
Yes, you can absolutely sign up after the course has started! However, please note that access to the content will remain the same. For example, if you sign up in Week 3, you’ll still have access to all previous lessons, but the live support and guidance will end on the original course end date.
At this time, our first online course is exclusively for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. If you're interested in joining a future offering for other breeds, please send me an email to be added to the waitlist.
Yes, the course is currently run on Facebook. If there’s enough interest in other platforms, I will consider offering the course elsewhere. Please email me if you’d like to express your interest in alternative platforms.
- Ensure you have a Facebook account to join the private group and a device (phone or computer) to watch the videos, participate in live chats, and upload videos.
- Internet access is required to view and interact with the course materials.
- For capturing your training videos, we recommend using a camera phone stand or tripod. This will help keep your phone steady, allowing you to focus on your training without worrying about holding the camera. It also ensures a clear and consistent view of your sessions.
Yes! Our Cavalier Online Dog Training Class is open to Cavalier families worldwide. 🌍 All you need is an internet connection and access to Facebook to participate.
Yes, you can downgrade within the first 14 days of the course. After that, no changes are allowed. If you downgrade within the 14-day period, you’ll receive a refund or credit for the difference between the two options. If you have any concerns, please email me.
You can request a full refund within 7 days of signing up if you're not satisfied with the course. After this period, no refunds will be issued. If you have any concerns, please email me.